How do we select new sites?
The Woodland Trust has a very active acquisition programme, but the potential number and type of sites that it could consider acquiring is huge. We have therefore agreed policies and strategies that help to focus our efforts and guide us to the types of site that maximise the delivery of our charitable outcomes.
What is our UK Land Strategy?
The UK Land Strategy directs us to manage, and to add to our property estate in a way that maximises the delivery of our three aims: -
- To enable the creation of more native woods and places rich in trees
- To protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future
- To inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees
What sites are we most interested in acquiring?
The types of site that we wish to acquire are currently focussed on ancient woodland sites that have been replanted with exotic conifers where we can restore them to broadleaf woodland and significantly improve their biodiversity.
A further priority are woodland creation sites, particularly where they adjoin existing ancient semi-natural woodland or where new woodland is the only way of providing a significant centre of population with an accessible wood.
Any site containing a significant element of old growth is also important to consider for acquisition.
The acquisition of existing woodland is only a priority if it is ancient and Trust ownership can make a significant difference to its biodiversity or remove a serious threat to its long term survival.
Size of site is an important consideration in all areas of our acquisition work. There are geographical differences over what we consider to be a suitable size but a new site will generally need to be large enough to be considered significant in its regional or national context.
The criteria apply equally to purchases, gifts and legacies of land.